Musical instrument for chord accompaniment

ABSTRACT

A musical instrument for producing chord accompaniment when at least three adjacent tone producing means are struck simultaneously. The tone producing means are uniquely arranged in pairs spaced a semitone apart. The pairs are arranged in a transverse series alternately a double whole tone and one and one-half tones apart on an ascending musical scale.

United States Patent 1191 Thiel Nov. 4, 1975 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FOR CHORD 2,085,363 6/1937 Hultsch s4/403 ACCOMPANIMENT 3,012,460 12/1961 Wilson 84/423 3,067,645 12/1962 Moschino 84/423 Inventor: Wllhelm Thlel, Malnl, Germany 3,342,094 9/1967 Wilson 84/423 [73] Assignee: Danielle Deis, Bischofsheim, Germany Primary Examine'rLawrence R. Franklin Filed: Dec. 1974 Gigggzey, Agent, or FzrmWebb, Burden, Robmson & [21 Appl. No.2 537,182

[ ABSI'RACT U-S. A m sical instr me t f r pr d cing chord accompani, [51] Int. Cl. GlOC 3/12;G1OD 13/08 ment when at least three adjacent tone producing [58] Field of Search 84/402404, means are Struck Simultaneously The tone producing 427428 means are uniquely arranged in pairs spaced a semitone apart. The pairs are arranged in a transverse se- [56] References C'ted ries alternately a double whole tone and one and one- UNlTED STATES PATENTS half tones apart on an ascending musical scale.

1,202,882 10/1916 Nordbii 84/424 2,061,364 11/1936 Luedtke 84/423 2 Clams 1 Drawmg F'gure F W 1 r T T 1 e y i l E 1 IE 53 l or c,A E 1B gF n L i l g T F I i 5 i E .14 4t1 l L Lo L! G p' rj rlgr Tc G D li[ i l F (I G D A E I B F* T F v T 1 r F r A eaLF* c*Lc D A' r J J i L MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FOR CHORD ACCOMPANIMENT This invention relates to a musical instrument for chord accompaniment having tone producing means arranged in two interleaved offset rows.

In German Patent (Patentschrift) No. 1,247,826, a double keyboard or keyboard in two rows for musical instruments is described which requires a third row of keys connected to the first row of keys in order to produce only twelve triad chords without changing the position of the fingers or the hammer used to actuate the keys. Therefore, that keyboard is not adequate for producing all the 65 traditional chords produced in a progression known as the circle of fifths from the fundamental tone by way of six sharps and six flats resulting in major chords, minor chords, sevenths, diminished sevenths and augmented triads.

According to this invention, there is provided a musical instrument for chord accompaniment having tone producing means arranged in only two rows wherein the tone producing means are so disposed relative to one another that all the desired 65 chords or a smaller selection thereof can be produced with the position of the fingers unchanged and/or with the same type of hammer as where the invention is applied to chime like musical instruments similar to glockenspiels.

Briefly, according to this invention, pairs of tone producing means that form semi-tone steps are transversely offset relative to one another and alternately associated with one another in double whole tone steps (major thirds) and one and one-half tone steps (minor thirds) on an ascending musical scale. The pairs of tone producing means may contain the following tones: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F, sharp; A flat, A; C sharp, C; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F. However, it is possible to have smaller groups or pairs of tone producing means or half pairs of tone producing means associated with one another.

Further features and other objects and advantages of this invention will become clear from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings in which one embodiment of this invention is illustrated.

The drawing shows 18 pairs of tone producing means which may be an organ keyboard or tone producing bars which are secured to a suitable base in the fashion of musical chimes such as glockenspiels. Each pair of tone producing means contains two tones which are one semi-tone apart from the other. Between the pairs of tone producing means the tone interval changes regularly between a double whole tone step (major third) and a one and one-half tone step (minor third). Furthermore, the pairs of tone producing means are disposed in a transverse offset relationship to one another. it could be said that there are two offset rows arranged in interleaved fashion.

Due to the above-mentioned intervals, and the particular spacial arrangement afforded by the variable transverse offset disposition, it is possible to produce five chords with the aid of three adjacent pairs of tone producing means using a triple-headed hammer. Three chords are produced by striking the triple-headed hammer at three different places at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tone producing means and two chords are produced by holding the tripleheaded hammer in two diagonal positions.

Referring to the drawing, striking the three tone producing means (upper left hand corner) labeled F, A and C, one produces the F major triad. Striking the three tone producing means, F, G sharp and C, usually referred to as F, A flat and C, one produces the F minor triad. Striking the three adjacent tone producing means labeled E, G sharp and B, one produces the E major triad. Turning the striker at an angle, it is possible to strike F, G sharp and B usually referred to as F, A flat and C flat which is the diminished triad based upon the root F. Turning the striker through it is possible to strike the keys E, G sharp and C usually referred to as E, G sharp and B sharp, which is the augmented triad based on the root tone E. Seventh chords, i.e., those having at least four tones, can also be produced with a quadruple headed hammer. For example, it is possible to strike the four tone producing means labeled C, E, G and B which is the major seventh chord based upon C. It is also possible to strike C, E flat, G and B which is the minor seventh chord based on C. With the quadruple headed hammer turned at an angle, it is possible to strike the four tone producing means labeled C sharp, E, G and B flat which is the seventh diminished chord based upon C sharp.

The above-described musical instrument for chord accompaniment makes it possible by arrangement of the tone producing means to produce any desired chord sound for the first time in the simplest manner with the aid of a hammer similar to that used in glockenspiel type musical instruments and/or without changing the finger position on keyboard instruments.

Having thus described my invention with the detail and particularity as required by the Patent Laws, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims:

1. A musical instrument for chord accompaniment comprising a plurality of tone producing means, said tone producing means arranged in axially aligned pairs which paired means produce tones one-half musical interval apart, a plurality of said pairs being transversely arranged in offset side by side relationship such that one member of each pair is adjacent both members of the flanking pairs, said transversely arranged pairs being in an ordered series so that the tone producing means are alternately arranged a double whole musical interval and one and one-half musical interval apart on an ascending scale.

2. A musical instrument according to Claim 1 in which pairs of tone producing means are as follows: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F sharp; A flat, A; C, C sharp; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F. 

1. A musical instrument for chord accompaniment comprising a plurality of tone producing means, said tone producing means arranged in axially aligned pairs which paired means produce tones one-half musical interval apart, a plurality of said pairs being transversely arranged in offset side by side relationship such that one member of each pair is adjacent both members of the flanking pairs, said transversely arranged pairs being in an ordered series so that the tone producing means are alternately arranged a double whole musical interval and one and one-half musical interval apart on an ascending scale.
 2. A musical instrument according to Claim 1 in which pairs of tone producing means are as follows: E, F; G sharp, A; B, C; D sharp, E; F sharp (G flat), G; B flat, B; D flat, D; F, F sharp; A flat, A; C, C sharp; E flat, E; G, G sharp; B flat, B; D, D sharp; F, F sharp; A, B flat; C, C sharp; and E, F. 